Regulating mechanism for compressors



Sept. 25', 1923. 1,468,987

H. ABBOTT REGULATING MECHANISM FOR COMPRESSORS Filed April 24 1919 2Sheets-Sheet 1 x w Q 3144x244 oz I 11 11 Ahhufi Sept. 25, 1923.

H. ABBOTT REGULATING MECHANISM FOR COMPRESSORS Filed April 24, 1919 2Sheets-Sheet 2 vwemboz Mgr/" m I crate the air compressor by theoperation of Patented Sept. 25,1923.

HUGH ABBOTT, 0F HILL CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA EEG-ULA'I'ING- MECHANISM FORCOMPRESSORS.

V m Application fl1edApri1 24,1919. Serial No. 292,368

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Hporr ABBOTT, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hill City, in the countyof Pennington and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Regulating Mechanisms for Compressorsf of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in regulating mechanisms forcompression and more particularly to designating mechanism forcompressors which are used in connection with audible signals for motorvehicles. The main object of. the present invention is the provision ofnovel regulating mechanism forcompressors which will cause the operatingmechanism of the.

compressors tocease operating when a predetermined pressure value hasbeen reached.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an air compressor, .forcompressing air in a suitable storage tank from which the air passing tothe signal or whistle being controlled in its passage by the abovementioned valve and to provide means for connecting the air compressorwith the prime mover or motor of the motor vehicle to opthe motor, toprovide a clutch mechanism for controlling the operation of thecompressor, which clutchv mechanism is normally held in an operativeposition by a spiral spring, the said spring adaptedto be acted upon anddepressed under the pre-- determined pressure within the compressed airtank to operate said clutch to arrest operation of the air compressor,and. further to provide a governor mechanism which is operativelyconnected to said clutch and will arrest operation of the aircompressor.

when the motor of the motor vehicle reaches or passes above apredetermined speed which excessive speed might break the aircompressor. I

Other objects of-the invention will appear from the. following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming apart of'this specification and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary section through a otor vehicle showing theimproved ble signal applied thereto. :F1gure:2 .,is' a top plan of thesignal and its operating mechanism.

Figure 3 isa vertical section through the air compressor.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the operating valve of thesignal, and \V Figure 6 is a section through the tone controlling valveof the si al.- Referring'more particularly to the drawings, wherein likecharacters indicate like and corresponding parts, A' genericallyindicates the motor vehicle, whichv is driven by the usual type of motorB. The audible signal or wh1stle C is operated by compressed air .yvhichair is compressed by suitable compressor structures D, that is,operatively connected to the motor B. The dash board 1 of the motorvehicle'or automobile A has a tank 2 attached thereto in any suitablemanner, which tank is adapted to retain the compressed air for operatingthe signal mechanism C A compressure gauge 3 is carried by theinstrument board of the motor vehicle and is connected to the tank 2 toregister the pressure of the compressed air therein.

The air compressor 5 which charges the tank 2 is suitably supportedagainst the dash 1 by the supporting bracket structure 6, and it hascommunication with the inte rior of the tank 2 through a pipe 7, forforcing the alr under pressure into the tank.

A check valve 8 is interposed in the length rotatably supported by a,suitable bracket.

structure 14 and it has a pulley 15 rotatably mounted thereon. vA belt16 passes about the pulley 15' and about a pulley 17 which is carried bythe shaft 18 of the motor or prime mover structure B. Thisshaft 18 maybe the shaft of the motor which is employed for operating the generator,cooling system pump, or any other convenient shaft about the motorstructure. The pulley 15 is held against longitudinal movement upon theshaft 13 by spaced collars '18, and it is adapted to have frictionalengagement at one side thereof with one end of a friction clutch 19. Thefriction clutch 19 1s feaththe tank 2 in any suitable manner.

ered upon the shaft 13 and has a forked lever 20 connected theretointermediate its ends. The forked lever 20 is in turn connected to a rod21 slidably supported by the bracket structure 14. The rod 21 extendsinto the cylinders 22, which is attached to A piston 23 is mounted uponthe end of the rod 21 within the cylinder 22 and a spiral spring 24 iscoiled about the rod, engaging the piston 23 at one end, and the innersurface of the cap 25 of the cylinder at its opposite end. This spring24 is tensioned to normally hold the clutch 19 in frictional engagementwith one side of the pulley 15 to rotate the shaft 13 by operation ofthe motor B. The wall or guide of the tank 2 against which the cylinder22 is attached is provided with a relatively small opening 26 openinginto the cylinder 22 to permit air to pass from the tank 2 into thecylinder. When the pressure of the air in the tank 2 reaches apredetermined degree or passes thereabove, it will enter the cylinder22, and overcome the pressure of the spring 24, moving the rod 21longitudinally and consequently shifting the clutch 19 out of engagementwith't-he pulley 15 allowing the latter to rotate idly upon the shaft 13and arresting operation of the air compressor 5. The cylinder 22 isprovided with an opening 27 in the side thereof to permit the escape ofthe air therethrough, and thus the pressure of the air within the tank 2may be lowered or relieved and consequently maintained at substantiallythe desired pound pressure. The clutch 19 hasan annular flange 28 formedupon its ends remote from the end which engages the pulley 15. Thisflange 28 is engaged by the inturned, end 29 of a pair of arms 30. Thearms 30 are carried by the collar 31 of a governor structure 32. Thegovernor structure or mechanism 32 is mounted upon the shaft 13, thecollar 31 thereof being slidably mounted upon the shaft while the othercollar 33 is keyed or otherwise suitably attached to the shaft, thuswhen the rotation of the shaft 13 increases, under high speed ofthemotor vehicle and also of the engine B, the weights 34 of thegovernor structure will spread or move away from the axis of the shaft13, consequently drawing the collar 31 toward the collar 33 as is theordinary operation of a spring arm governor mechanism. This spreading ofthe weights 34 of the governor mechanism under high speed will shift theclutch 19 out of engagement with the cooling system and arrest operationof the compressor 5 so as to prevent the breaking of the compressor bythe operation thereof at artexcessive speed.

A chain or analogous flexible member 36 which passes over suitable guidekeys and is connected to a relatively short rod 38 which extends throughthe instrument board of the motor vehicle A and has a head 39 upon itsouter end to facilitate the longitudinal movement of the pin 38 to therod 21 to operate the clutch 19, manuall when it is desired todisconnect the compressor mechanism and the motor B. A spur 40 is formedupon the rod 38 and is adapted for engagement against the instrumentboard to hold the rod in outward position and consequently hold the rod21 in position to prevent operation of the compressor 5.

The audible signal comprises the whistle 41 which may be of any approvedtype, adapted to make a sound orsignal upon the flow of a fluid such ascompressed air therethrough. This whistle 41 is supported by its fluidfeedingp'ipe 42 and it may be located at any desired position upon themotor vehicle A, preferably above the, cowl or hood and in front of theWind shield, as shown in Figure 1; however, it is to be understood thatthe whistle may be placed. at any desired location upon thev vehiclewithout departing from the spirit of' this invention.

The feed pipe 42 extends downwardl through the floor 43 of the motorvehicle K and extends transversely across thevehicle beneath the board,providing'a transverse link 44. From the transverse link 44 of the feedpipe it extends forwardly beneath the floor and upwardly and forwardlybeneath the foot rest or foot board of the vehicle up through the latterto the tank 2, to which it is connected as clearly shown in Figures 1and 20f the drawings, to permit the flow of compressed air from the tank2 to the whistle 41. A valve mechanism 45 is interposed inthe'transverse horizontal length 44 of the feed pipe and it includes theusual type of valve casing '46 having a slidable gate 47 mounted thereinfor controlling the passag g of the fluid through the valve casing an tothe whistle 41. A valve stem 48 is connected to the gate 47 and extendsupwardly through the floor 43 of the motor vehicle, having a. head 49vupon its upper end. A spiral spring 50 is coiled about the stem- 48engaging against the collar 51 at its upper end and a a-inst the valvecasing 46 at its lower end, the said spring forcing the stem and head 49u wardly and consequently forcing the gate LT-upwardly to out oflthefiow of fluid through the valve casing, the

said gate adaptedto be forced downwardly upon pressure of the foot ofthe drive of the vehicle to allow the fluid to pass to the whistle 41 tooperate the same.

Positioned in the feed pipe 42 between the V tank 2 and valve mechanism45 is a tone control valve structure which includes a yalve casing 52 inwhich is mounted a vertically slidable gate. 53 having system 54connected through the floor 43 of the motorvehicle.

The gate valve 53 is'urged upwardly by the spring 57, and the upwardmovement of the gate valve is limited by a lug58 formed upon the'stem 56which engages against the under .surface of a wear plate 59 carried bythe of compressed air or fluid is admitted for floor .43, thus holdingthe gate valve 53 partially closed for constricting the passagewaythrough which the fluid passes from the tank 2 to the valve mechanism45. When the movement of the gate valve 53 is limited by the lug 58 onlya relatively smallquantity ,way through the valve casing 52 to allow thegreater quantity of the compressed air or fluid to pass to the Whistle41. A second lug b 60 is carried by the stem 56 above the lug 5S andwhen the stem 56 is depressed for this lug '60 to engage beneath thesurface of the wear plate 59, the gate valve will be held in its openposition to allow the increased quantity of'compressed'alr to pass tothe whistle. Thus it is only necessary to abut' the valve gate 53 toregulate the volume of sound created by the whistle 41 and the operatorneed pay no particular attention to the scope of movement imparted tothe valve stem 48 and the gate valve 47 for re lating the volume ofsound of the signal; he pivotal connection between the stems 54 and 56permits the stem 56 to be rocked to move the lugs 58 and 68 into or outof positionv for engagement against the under surface of the wearplate'59. The valve stem 56 has the usual typeof head or petal filuponits upper edge.

Generically the operation ofthe improved signal is as follows When theengine or motor B of the motor'vehicle A is started, it will transmitmotion to the pulley 16 and from this pulley through the clutch 19to theshaft 13,,for rotat ng the disc 12 and reciprocating the piston 10 ofthe air. compressor5, compressing; air in front of the piston andforcing the compressed air under pressure into the tank 2. When the airin the tank reaches or passes above a predetermmed pound pressure, itwill overcome the action or tension of the spring 24-and move" the rod24 to cut oil the connection between the clutch 19 and the pulley 15,arresting operation of'the compressor 5 or in casethe engine ;or motor Breaches or passes a certain-speed, and which the operation of thecompressor thereby would be liable to break the compressor, thegovernor.

consequently "Fiji mechanism will act for disconnecting the clutch andthe pulley, 15.

While using the vehicle in cities the tone control valve mechanism isset to permit only a limited or relatively small quantity of thecompressed air to pass to the whistle 41 and when it is desired to soundthe whistle, the driver of the "ehicle may, by pressure of his footdepress the pin 48 and the gate valve 47 allowing the fluid orcompressed air to flo into or out of the whistle 41. By controlling theoperation or pressing of the stem 48,'any predetermined tone orsignalmay be made by means of the whistle 41; In touring, when itis desired tohave aslouder and-more audible signal, the valve em 46 is depressed tocause the lugs 50 to engage against the wear plates 59 and permitarelatively large quantity of com- 1 pressed air to pass through thewhistle upon operation of, the gate valve 47 Changes in details may bemade without departing from the spirit of this invention, ut; v a

I claim: v v '1. The combination of a motor vehicle ineluding a motor,an air compressor, a tank for receiving the air from the compressor, acylinder having communication with the tank, a piston reciprocably'mounted within the cylinder, a shaft arranged adjacent vthe cylinder,means, operatively connecting the shaft with the compressor, a-clutchmechanism' on said shaft, a governor mechanism on said shaft foroperating said clutch for controlling the operation of said compressor,a piston rod connected to said piston and extending in parallel relationto said shaft,- .-and anarm secured to rod and operatively connectedwith said clutch for ermitting the disconnection of the compressor fromsaid shaft when the said piston pressure in said tank has reached aprede- 'termi'ned value,'and means formanually opcrating said pistonrods 2. The combination of a motor vehicle in- 'cluding a motor, an aircompressor, a tank b for receiving the air from the" compressor, a

cylinder 5 having communication with the.

tankya piston 'recipi'ocably" mounted within the cylinder, a shaft,arranged adjacent the cylinder, means. operatively connecting the shaftwith the compressor, a clutch on said shaft, means for operating saidclutch for controlling the operation ofthe compressor, a piston rodconnected to the piston and extending in parallel relation to the shaft,means forming operative connection between the piston rod and clutch fordisconnecting the compressor from the shaft when the pressure 'in thetank reaches a predetermined value, and. means for manually operatingsaid piston. rod. 1 Y v f HUGH ABBOTT.

